Attorneys Seek Hearing On Paralyzed Man's Retrial

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Lawyers for a black man left paralyzed after he was shot by a white Pittsburgh officer during a traffic stop want a judge to schedule a hearing to determine if Allegheny County prosecutors have been fair in delaying a decision whether to retry the man on some criminal counts.

Attorneys for 21-year-old Leon Ford, of Shaler Township, say there's no good reason for the DA to delay a decision on the retrial.

Ford was acquitted of aggravated assault in September.

But a jury couldn't decide five other counts, including reckless endangerment, which police filed when Ford's car drove away with Officer David Derbish in it.

Derbish shot Ford, who crashed seconds later.

Police claim Ford was trying to flee, but he says the still-running car got knocked into gear as police wrongly tried to pull him from it.

You May Also Be Interested In These Latest News Stories

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter